Electrically-heated solder pot



ELECTRIGALLY HEATED SOLDER Pili" July a9, i921 WWNESSES.

.l dpr/Pw @ya im, EQ2@ ELECTRI GALLET HEATE Filed July' zwiwo@ /l//fs M Mac/@Hand WITNESSES: i

Patented Dec. ae, 1924;

B'LIS M. MACFARJAND, 0F XVILKINSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR 'I WESTNG- AHOUSE ELECTRI t MANUFACTURNG VANIA..

applica-non fue@ .my i9,

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that l, Aims M'. MACFAR- LAND, a citizen of the "Unitedv States, and a resident ot Wilkinsburg, in the county of Allegheny and State ot Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful improvement in Electrically-Heated Solder Pots, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to electrically heated apparatus and particularly to electrically heated solder pots, and it has for .one of its objects to provide a relatively simple and compact device of the above indicated character. i

Another object is to provide a flexible heating element comprising a plurality of resistor-supporting members which may be combined to form a heating element of any suitable or esired size for application to solder pots of various dimensions.

In practicing my invention, l' provide a substantially cylindrical metal casing, the lower portion of which is so shaped as to form supporting members. 'l provide a substantially' cylindrical inner container made of relatively thin sheet metalA and suitably secured thereto, at its upper edge, a surrounding metal ring. l provide a flange cover memberwhich is secured to the top of the inner container by means ot bolts passing through the ring secured at the top of the container. The flanged cover member is of suchouter dimensions as to permit of locating it on the top of the easing, whereby the flanged member. the container and any material contained therein is supported by the upper edge ot' the outer casing.

l provide a 'heating element comprising a plurality ot elongated relatively narrow refractory supporting members each having a plurality of grooves extending laterally therethrough. The resistor-supporting members are placed in side-by-side relation, and metallic resistor.l preferablv a wire helix, is located in the grooves. The lateral cross section of the supporting members may have the 'form of a square or other rectangle a triangle. The assembled heating element constitutes a substantially flexible member which may be easily and quickly applied against the outer peripheral surila-oe of the inner container and be main tainedfin its operative position by suitable COMPANY, A CORPORATION' 0F PENNSYL- ELECTRIALL'-EEATED SDILIDTR` PDT. l

rsa1. serial no. 485,881.

vot1 direct contact therewith. l provide also,

means for varying the amount of heat which may be conducted to thethermostat to permit of easily and quickly varying the predetermined temperature at which it is de sired to maintain the molten material.

ln the drawings;

Figure 1 is a view, partly in side elevad tion and partly in section, of a solder pot embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a view, in vertical cross section, on the line lltll of Fig. l;-

3 is a top plan view, certain portions being cut away, ot a solder pot embodying my invention; v

Fig. 4 is a view, in vertical cross section, on the line lV-V of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a developed view of anelectric heating element constituting a part of my invention;

Fig. 6 is a top plan view of a heating element applied to the outside peripheral surface of the container;

Fig. 7 is a view, in side elevation, of the` heating element illustrated in Fig, 6, and

Fig. 8 is a view, in side elevation, of the device en'ibodyingmy invention, certain portions being broken away to more clearly illustrate the terminal construction of the heating element.

solder pot designated generally by the numeral l. comprises an outer relatively thin metallic casing 2 having recesses fl in its lower edge to provide a plurality of supporting member.C 4.

A container 5 toi' the solder -or Babbitt metal to be melted comprises a substantially cylindrical casing having an upper open end and a closed lower end, which latter is formed bye bottom member 6. The bottom 6 may be Welded to the container 5 or the two parts 5 and 'niay be formed integral with each other; as by stamping the same.` An annular4 ring 7 is located on the outside of the con-- tainer 5 and may be suitably secured thereto adjacent the upper edge thereof by brazing or Welding.

A con'ibined flange-and-cover member 8 comprises a substantially' horizontally extending annular ring, the inner diameter of which is substantially equal to the Ainner, diameter ol the container 5. The member 9, is secured agr-.inst the members 5 and 7 by a plu ality of screws or belts S) which project through the ring 7. The member 8 is provided with a downwardly extending circular flange portion it). the outer diameter of which is substantially equal to the inner diameter ot the casing 2. When the flange member 8, together with the container 5 secured thereto. is located ou the upper edge of the casing it is substantially coaxial therewith by reason ot the depending flange member l0.- Screws l0 serve to hold the member 8 in operative relation on the `casing 2.

A heating element7 designated in general by the numeral ll, comprises a plurality ot' relatively narrow elongated refractory members l2. each having a plurality ot grooves 13 extending laterally therethrough. A resistor lil comprises a helieally Wound Wire located in the grooves 13.

To build up a complete heating element7 a suitable'niunber of members l2 are laid 'in side-by-side relation on a level surface. the number employed being such as will be slightly less than the outer periphery of the container a space 15 being lett in which terminal bars may be located. The resistbr i4 is then threaded through the slots et the adjacent and successive members i2, the length ot each of the resistor elements lll being such as to be substantially` equal to a multiple ol the width ol the assembled members l2 so that the beginning and the end of any onel element are adjacent, to each other when in operative position for connection 4to terminal bars to be hereinafter described more in detail. The end pieces l2 may be provided with a recess 1.8 extending longitudinally -of the member to permit of covering the return bends and the ends ot the helix by the refractory material of the end member.h

`While I have illustrated the members l2 as being substantially rectangular in lateral cross section.y I do not wish to be limited thereto, I may malte these members substantially triangular in lateral cross section, the base of the triangle being the outside flat surface thereof.

After all of the grooves in the members 2.21, or `as many of them as may be necesmeros;

sary, have been filled with the resistors 14, the heating element may be placed around the container 5 and, if the members 12 are substantially reetangular,as illustrated, tho heating element. when in its operative posi-y tion, Will be substantially as 1l1ustrated in Fig. 6. It may be noted that the turns of the helical resistor element 14 located immediately adjacent the abutting'surfaces of any two adjacent members are slightly separated. lt desired, close operative engage-- ment ot the. inner surfaces ot the members l2 With the outer y -plie-ral surface of the conra'ner 5 may assured by placing a wire 17 around heating element ll in grooves 1S provi-L near the ends ot the members l2 in the outer surface thereof.

In order to maintain the heating 'elementl ll. in its proper operative position, relatively to the container a plurality ol supporting members 1S ot substantially Z-,shape may he used. one portion thereof being secured against the bottom member 6 ot the container. lllhile l have illustrated the member lil as ot' Z-shape7 this is not material. as the 'torni ot the supportingr member lt) depends upon the relative dimensions ol" the container 5 and of the heating element ll when they occupy their relative operative positions.

As a heatingl element comprises a plurality ot resistor elements llt, a plurality ot terminal ha rs 20. 2l and are provided to permit o'lE so connectingr thereto the various resistor elements 'Il as to permit of selectively varying the amount of energy 42x-- pended therein. As illustrated in Fig. 8, one end ot each ot the elements 11i is connected to the terminal har 2() While the other end of alternating elements 14 are connected to the hars 2l and 22. respectively. ridingY suitable control means (not shown). l may so connect the heating elements i4 as to cause all of them to be traversed by electric current at the same time, or only .i portionv thereof. as. tor instance, those connected to the terminal bar 21 and the terminal bar 20, or l may so connect them that the two groups of three elements cach shall be connected in series-circuit relation. thus providing higln intermediate and low ieats.

The terminal bars 20. 2l and 22 are located in substantially vertiealpositions outside of the inner container 5 and are severally provided with a substantially horizontal extension portion 23 which has a down- Wardly extending part provided with e.

screw-or bolt 24 which serves to suitably.

connect the ends of su ply-circuit conductors (not shown) to t e bus bars 20, 21

and 22.

By pro-- plate whichis, in turn, bolted against a flange, with a downwardly extending con-v duit member 27 in which the supply circuit conductors (not shown)v may bc located.

In order to reduce the amount of heat radiated .downwardly and sidewise, I provide heat-insulating material inside ot' the casing 2 comprisinvsuitably shaped blocks 28 of al'suitable eat-insulating material. A block of' heat-insulating material 29 'is located beneath the bottom of the container 5 and is held in place by means of a substantially circular disk 30 which. is, in turn,

. maintained in its proper operative position i A material located in the container a by means of a plurality of brackets 31 secured against the inside of the casing-supporting members 4. Heat-insulating material 28a is.

located between the flange member 8 and the annular plate 25 to reducehthe heat How from the ring 7 and the flange member 8. ,l

In order to providef'a means for indicating regulation of temperature of the molten when in operation, I provide a thermostat 32 which projects into the container 5 through the bottom member 6 and is protected against contact with the ,molten material byra tubular member 33 suitably secured to the bottom member 6. The thermostat 32 may be maintained, in its operative position by means ot' a metal strip 34 engaging the thermostat between a cooperating pair of annular integral fianges 35 on the thermostat 32. A plurality of pairs of flanges may be provided to permit of varying the position of thc thermostatwith reference to the bottom member 6. The member 34 may be suitably secured against the member 30 by means of screws or bolts 36. The thermostat and its operation are more fully described a'nd claimed in my' co-pendingapplication, Serial No. 485,- 882, filed duly 19, 1921.

` It may be noted that the device embodying my invention provides a heat-insulated casing in which `the material container is located with a heating element in relatively intimate contact with the container. The heat-y ing element comprising a portion of the device embodying my invention` is a relatively simple and easil installed flexible heating element easily a apted to various sizes and shapes of containers. Relatively simple heating-element-supporting means are provided as are also an improved terminal-bar construction to permit of selectively varying the energization ofthe heating element.

' .Various modifications may be made in the device embodying my invention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof and I desire that only suchi limitations shall be placed thereon as are imposedA by the prior art or are specifically set forth inthe appended claims.

I claim my invention:

l: An electrically heated solder-pot comprising an outer easing, a container for lthe material being heated, an annular flange member secured to said container and supporting it from the casing, ay flexible heating element encircling said container and contact terminals for said heating element-supported by, and depending from, said annular fiange member.

2. An electrically heated solder-pot comprising an outer casing, an inner container provided, at its upper end, with an annular iiange whereby said container is supportedA on said casing, a flexible heating element located on the outer peripheral surface of said container, means on said container for holding said heating element in its operative position, heat-insulating material insideof said casing and surrounding' said heating element and additional heat insulating ma te'i-ial belet said container and operative tol maintain said first named heat-insulating material in its operative position relatively to said casing.

3. In an electricallyl heated solder-pot the` combination with an. outer casing and a container for the material being heated, of a Y fiexible heating element surrounding said container and comprising a plurality of' elongated narrow refractory supporting members, each having a plurality of laterally extending grooves in one vface and' a helically wound resistor wire located in said grooves. the relative lateral movement of adjacent supporting members being permitted by the movement of' adjacent turns of' the helically-wound resistor. j

4. An electrically heated device comprising a flexible heating element. saidheating element comprising a plurality of elongated, relatively narrow, refractory supportingl members, each vhaving a plurality of laterally-extending grooves in one face, and a helically wound resistor located in said grooves, relative lateral movement of adjacent supporting members being permitted by` the movement of adjacent turns of the resistor.

An electrically heated device comprisinf;` av surface to be heated and a fiexible heating element located closely adjacent to said surface and comprising a plurality of elongated, relatively narrow, refractory supporting members, each having a plurality of laterally-extending grooves in one face, and a helically wound resistor wire located in said grooves and. permitting relative lateral uio acont pars, :fred

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